The Meridian Knight May 2017

V O L U M E 1 I S S U E 3 The Meridian Knight May 2017 Council Officers Chaplain - Fr Matthew Simmons Grand Knight - David Viger Deputy Grand Knight - David Klutz Financial Secretary - Richard Norman Chancellor - Robert (Bob) Leo, PGK Treasurer - John Harwell Advocate - Roland Stewart Recorder - Frank Polizzi, PGK Lecturer - John Bennett, PGK The Main Principles of Our Order are Charity Unity Fraternity Patriotism Newsletter Editor George Walston Warden - Howard McCarty Inside Guard - Frank Sharp Outside Guard - David Stephens Trustees Patrick J (PJ) Carter, PGK John Maloney, Sr., PGK Mouise Richards, PGK We Thank You Lord for all that you give us freely

P A G E 2 Chaplain Fr. Matthew Simmons No report for May Please continue to pray for vocations. We Need more priests Brother Knights, Grand Knight David Viger No report for May

P A G E 3 Bingo Bob Leo, PGK Heee's baaaack, as the saying goes. Yes I'm back and doing a lot better since I had an Arterial procedure performed on my right leg. I can walk a lot further now than I could before. I still have the left leg to do yet. I want to thank everyone of the well wishers and those that offered up prayers for me while I was out having the operation. Many thanks to Brothers Frank Polizzi and Roland Stewart for covering for me in my absence. Thank you, brothers. Well, last month was a record breaking month as far as net proceeds go. We did well, and its due to all of your hard and dedicated work, I congratulate you on your record month, which will be a long time before we break that record. (I hope not too long), Last month we had a complaint turned in to the Mississippi Gaming Commission, that our bingo balls were not mixing and turning fast enough ( can you believe it ) I was informed by our agent of this,complaint, I informed our agent that I had already called Roy Bingo and they stated that is as fast as the balls rotate and mix, there isn't any adjustment to the speed. So if you are asked about the speed of the balls being stirred and mixed that is the answer you give them (go figure ). Keep up the great work you are doing, our charities love you for it. Bob Leo Bingo Manager Council Taupule (Tau) Iosia Our congratulations go out to Kate Cherry for being chosen as the John J Burns Award recipient for this year. On May 27th we will honor her with our annual John J Burns Awards Banquet. Social hour will start at 6pm to 6:45pm with music from her husband's band. At 7pm the banquet will begin. Please RSVP to me at tiosia@yahoo.com or give me a call at 601-692-8746 The band has offered to stay after the presentation to Kate for our further dancing enjoyment. Due to the fact that the Burns Award is followed closely by Memorial day. The Memorial Day Picnic may be changed to a later date. Thank you, Tau May Birthdays 1st Daniel Pittman 2nd Rick Norman 3rd Steve Duncan & Phillip Jenkins 7th Scott Albaugh & David Rauenhorst 13th Otto Storr 14th John Maloney, III 16th Albert (Al) Wood 17th Bob Degitz 24th Lindsay Gabriel 25th Dr. Jim Purdy 27th Phillip Worland 29th Chad Lint 31st Joe Birzer

P A G E 4 Special on Youth from John Harwell On April 1st the St. Patrick Middle School Kids (with a couple of a grown up extras) put a whoopin on the KC Mens basketball team 50-28. The game was held in the FLC and special thanks to the following people who made it happen: announcer: Tom Zettler, Scorekeeper: Cassie Klutz, Referees: Bob Leo and Dewayne Klutz, St. Patrick School Principal: Jennifer David Teams: Youth - Coach Adrian Perry - Players-Elijah Reed, Jean Karol Mayo, Travis Ross, John Wassel, Daniel Baah, Mike Breedlove and Waylon Sanders (these last two Adrian commandeered from us since they were not card carrying Knights (note:mike is now a new Knight) and were instrumental in our defeat). It was first time ever that the kids had beaten the Knights!! Older than Dirt Team: Coach/Player: David Viger - Players-Vincent Kidd, David Klutz, Larry Birzer, Tyler Oakes, Chad Lint and John Harwell After the game, the Knights provided pizza and drinks for all who were in attendance. The school also provided drinks and snacks as well. Thank you to all who helped make it a fun filled Saturday morning for all. John Harwell Dep Grand Knight Dave Klutz If today you hear his voice, harden not your hearts. In case you haven't noticed the world is a mess right now. Many are asking how did God let it get so messy. The answer is simple, it is not his mess it is ours. Life is messy and we are called to put ourselves in the middle of the mess and work to make a difference, however small. We are all carrying a heavy load, but so is every person we encounter in life. Jesus invites us to "take up our cross daily" (Luke 9:23). Some days we are called to take up someone else's cross also, so he can catch his breath, have a short rest, or simply have his faith in the goodness of humanity restored. Don't let the devil tell you that you have too many problems to make a difference in someone else's life. Ignore him because he is a liar. Don't let the world make you feel helpless. Never give into discouragement. You are not alone. You are surrounded by a group of Knights that will help you make a difference. Making a difference in the world is what the Knights of Columbus does. All it takes is some small action on your part. First turn to God in prayer! Then reach out to an active Knight and say, "I want to help". Just say the words and we will find something for you to do that will make a difference in this messy world. All it takes is for you to decide right here and right now, to do something! In the next few months we will visit people in the hospital, serve dinner after a Saturday Mass, honor a local volunteer in our community with a dinner, attend a Pro Life dinner, help out the Senior class at St. Patrick's School, conduct the rosary before mass, take the youth to a weekend conference, conduct a wedding renewal at mass, and a few more that I know I forgot. Any sound good? Have a great idea that we should be doing? Let us know. Remember even a very small act on your part can help change this messy world, but YOU have to act. Vivat Jesus! Dave Klutz, DGK

P A G E 5 Congratulations to the Following Honorees March Knight of the Month David Klutz, DGK March Family of the Month Jan and John Kasper Knight of the Quarter January, February, March Tommy Beeman Council 802 Knight of the Year 2017 David Viger, GK Council 802 Family of the Year 2017 Debbie and Darrell Hover Assembly 1251 Sir Knight of the Year 2017 Frank Polizzi

P A G E 6 Pro Life Darrell Hover Brother Knights THANK YOU Larry Birzer, Bob and Rosalie Leo for attending the annual Pro-Life Spring Banquet at First Baptist Church in Jackson with me on April 6th. Our State Governor, Phil Bryant was guest speaker and had a very inspiring message. The Spring 40 Days for Life campaign ended on a very positive note. This 40 Days for Life campaign was held in over 30 different countries around the world and reports estimate over 100,000 people participated and 637 lives were saved from abortion. Thank you all for your daily prayers and participating in the 40 Days for Life daily devotionals. AFA's (American Family Association) Action Alert prompted 31,304 emails to the Senate, urging members to pass H. J. Res. 43, overruling harmful regulation and protecting the right of states to defund Planned Parenthood. At the end of the vote, the Senate was tied 50-50, meaning the resolution would not pass. But, because of Senate rules, the vice president of the United States was allowed to vote on the measure and break the tie. Vice President Mike Pence rushed to the Senate chambers and cast the critical vote needed to allow states to allocate funds in a way that clearly keeps family planning and abortion separate by not funding organizations that participate in abortion. I am grateful for his vote as vice president, which will save the lives of tens of thousands of babies from the hands of Planned Parenthood. God bless each of you. Have a great day every day. LIFE IS A GIFT. Darrell, Pro-Life "IN GOD WE TRUST" Community Roland Stewart Please join us on Thursday, May 25th, at 6:10pm for our next visit to our friends at The Pines of East Mississippi. The residents there really appreciate our visits. You will get more out of this visit than will the residents. Community Chairman, Roland Stewart

P A G E 7 4th Degree John Harwell Greetings to all, I hope everyone had a blessed Holy Week as we reflected on the suffering and death of Jesus Christ and then were renewed again by celebrating his Resurrection. As we move into the month of May my hope is that we will all have a fresh energy and spirit in our faith life and that the Lord will lead us in new ways to serve others. Looking back, I would like to congratulate Sir Knight of the Year, Frank Polizzi - PFN. Frank has been an all around great member of the Knights of Columbus for many years. He has served in virtually every office of both Council 802 and Assembly 1251. He is an integral part of the KC Bingo operation, serving as one of its managers. He tends to the inventory of all the sheets that are bought and sold. He works the floor and calls bingo along with other duties, as well. He has served as the Commander of the 4th Degree Color Corp when Bob Leo is unable to do so. He provides music for events throughout the year for the Knights, Church and School. Oh, and he is a pretty darn good cook as well. We have enjoyed his cuisine on numerous occasions. He has been an active leader in the Scouting program for decades. I could go on but I think you get the picture. Thank you Frank for all you have done and continue to do for our Council, Assembly, Church, School, Scouts etc. On April 13th, our Honor Guard was a part of the Holy Thursday Mass at St. Patrick Church and then stood watch during the Gethsemane Hour afterwards. Thank you to SK Frank Polizzi, PFN for serving as the Commander for the evening in Bob's absence. Along with Frank, the following Sir Knights served: Tom Zettler, PSD, Sal Moreno, Howard McCarty, Bob Connor, Dewayne Klutz, David Klutz, DGK, and Larry Birzer. Upcoming in May, please join us for our annual Memorial Day Flag Ceremony at St. Patrick Cemetery at 8:00AM on May 29th. We will raise the flag and then lower it to half-staff. At Noon, the flag will then be raised to full-staff. At 5:00PM, the flag will be retired. If you have a family member or a friend who died while in service to our country, please share their name with us that morning and a little bit of their story (date, location, branch of service, circumstances etc.). If you are not able to come but would like for us to remember your loved one, please email me the information (jdharwell4@comcast.net) or call me at (601) 513-5456. This is the one day out of the year that we remember those who gave their all for the freedoms that we enjoy. It is my hope to specifically remember as many as we can by their name and story that morning. I hope everyone has a good month. Faithful Navigator John Harwell 1 COR 12 4-7 Church Sal Moreno I would like to thank Brothers Howard McCarty, Tom Zettler, John Casper, John Harwell, David Stevens and also my wife Liberty for helping me serve breakfast for the RCIA. The month of May is Rosary month. Let me in advance thank those who signed up to lead the praying of the rosary. You guys are awesome. Sal Moreno Church Program Salmoreno@comcast.net Sal Moreno salmoreno@comcast.net Please continue to pray for vocations. We Need more priests

P A G E 8 Membership David Stephens Brother Knights, It is my pleasure to say Congratulations and Welcome to Brother Michael Breedlove who was exemplified April 18, 2017. We have at least one applicant scheduled for the next Admissions (1 st ) Degree Exemplification, Tuesday, May 16 th. Membership is truly a team effort! Let s Go Team!!! Exemplifications in May: Joint Formation and Knighthood Degree Sunday, May 7 th, 10am 2pm; Biloxi. Admissions (1 st ) Degree Tuesday, May 16 th, 6:30 7:30 pm; KC Hall, Meridian. Knighthood (3 rd ) Degree Saturday, May 20 th, 10am 1pm; Natchez. There is still plenty of time to recruit potential Knights to join us! Fraternally, David T. Stephens, Membership Director Seminarians Corner Deacon Nick Adam Brother Knights, We are wrapping up another semester at Notre Dame, and I know that there are always questions about where every seminarian is in formation, so I figured I could spend a column updating all of you on where all of us in the graduate seminary are headed this summer (we also have three men in the college seminary). Basically we are at varying levels, much of which is based on whether or not we need to learn language skills along with Theology, but we are scheduled to have several diaconate and priesthood ordinations in the next couple of years. Deacon Nick Adam (RSVP sponsored by Council 802) Entering 4 th (final) year Theology Summer Assignment: St. Richard Jackson Deacon Aaron Williams Entering 4 th (final) year Theology Summer Assignment: Catholic Community of Meridian Mr. Adolfo Suarez Entering 3 rd year Theology Summer Assignment: St. Dominic Hospital Jackson Mr. Cesar Sanchez (RSVP sponsored by Council 802) Entering 3 rd year Theology Summer Assignment: St. Dominic Hospital Jackson Mr. Juan-Carlos Martinez Entering Pastoral Assignment Summer Assignment: St. Therese Jackson Mr. Andrew Nguyen Entering 2 nd year Theology Summer Assignment: Institute for Priestly Formation (Omaha, Nebraska) With this many seminarians at the graduate level we have much to be thankful for, but I know we can count on Council 802 to continue to pray for and support more vocations. Thank you for all that you do, including your generosity to the Priest Education Fund. - Deacon Nick Please continue to pray for vocations. We Need more priests

Please continue to pray for vocations. May 2017 We need more priests Sun Mon Tue Wed Thu Fri Sat 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 Business Meeting 7:30pm 8 9 10B Adoration 12 Noon to 8PM 11 12 13 Joint Formation (2nd) and Knighthood (3rd) Degrees Biloxi 10 AM No 2nd Degree practice tonight 14 15 16 17 Adoration 12 Noon to 8PM KC Responsibility 18 19 20 1st Degree 6:30pm Meeting Follows 7:30 20 22 23 24 Adoration 12 Noon to 8PM 25 Knighthood (3rd) Degree Natchez 10:00 AM 26 27 Adoration 12 Noon to 7PM 28 29 4th Degree Meeting 7:30pm 30 31 EMSH Visitation 6:10pm John J Burns Award Banquet 6:00 pm Memorial Day Flag Ceremony 0800 (8am) No Meeting tonight